PHY302 - Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics (2022-2023)

Recommended previous courses:

PHY102, PHY107, PHY201, PHY204, PHY205, PHY206

Condensed matter physics deals with the description of the physical properties of matter when the interaction between its constituents are very strong. This is typically the case for materials and devices. It covers a very large field of knowledge that encompasses electric, thermal, chemical, magnetic, and mechanical properties, and all the combinations of these properties, in solids.

From the technological point of view, condensed matter physics have brought some major discoveries and new developments: electronic devices, sensors, actuators, transductors, power generation devices, energy storage, to name but a few.

This domain of physics is based on two different and complementary approaches. A first approach starts from the quantum microscopic constituents and describes statistically the macroscopic consequences. The second is a phenomenological macroscopic description based on general principles of thermodynamics and symmetries.

The goal of this lecture is to give an overview of the concepts, methods and applications, with a particular emphasis on the non-equilibrium thermodynamic approach of transport phenomena (electric, thermal, thermoelectric, magnetic...). The lectures are focused on the understanding of technologically important problems.

The following topics will be covered:

• Crystal structures and symmetries. Structural characterization of solids.
• Introduction to quantum theory of solids.
• Macroscopic approach: first principles of thermodynamics. Transport coefficients, and Onsager reciprocity relations. Conservation laws.
• Electric transport properties in metal and semiconductors. Thermoelectric effects. Hall effects, Nernst effects, magnetoresistance.
• Kinetics of magnetization: the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation, hysteresis loops and thermal activation.
• Kinetics of defects in solids.
• Standard anelastic solids (viscoelasticity).